© National Instruments Corp
2-1
GPIB-PRL User Manual
Chapter 2
Installation and Operation
As mentioned in Chapter 1 the GPIB-PRL can transfer data either from the
GPIB port to the parallel port or from the parallel port to the GPIB port. The
parallel interface supports only unidirectional data transfers so the GPIB-PRL
must be configured to source data onto the parallel port or to receive data
from the parallel port.
If the parallel port is going to be the source of the data and a GPIB device will
be the end recipient of the data (as with a GPIB plotter connected via a
GPIB-PRL to the Centronics port on an IBM PC), you will be operating in
P (Parallel) mode.
Figure 2-1. Example of P Mode System Setup
If the GPIB port will be the source of the data and a parallel device will be
receiving the data (as with a Centronics printer interfaced to the IEEE 488 via
a GPIB-PRL), you will be operating in G (GPIB) mode.
Figure 2-2. Example of G Mode System Setup
